Dog Days of Summer...and CBJ Missing the Boat
Posted 3:17 PM ET | Comments 3
It's hot, over 100 degrees in Columbus. Free agency has since wound down from the July 1st frenzy and second-tier players are evaluating the market.
As my days are consumed with rounds of golf, working and following the Blue Jackets' quest to complete their roster, I can't help but think of reasons why Scott Howson may have passed on Andy Sutton.
Thrasher fans have negative comments, but what fans wouldn't be pessimistic of a tenured player opting to leave their city? I have to think some Blue Jackets fans would have less than kind words to say about Dan Fritsche if he opted for free agency sometime down the road.
What Andy Sutton brings is something that many Columbus defenseman lack: intensity, size and heart. Aside from Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Adam Foote, the CBJ blueline looks disengaged more often than not. He is an excellent shutdown guy, and at 6'6 and 245 pounds carries an unheard of frame. Columbus has enough "offensive defenseman" in the system to convert some of them to forwards.
Speculation will take many routes, but the most likely scenario is that Sutton was looking for a longer term than Scott Howson was willing to offer. The GM has gone on record saying that he would sign players to a reasonable term, and for a reasonable amount. Based on previous contracts offered by Howson this offseason, Sutton was probably offered a one or two-year deal. Reports suggest he wanted three or four, something Howson just isn't ready to committ to.
The focus should now shift to arguably the most solid defenseman left on the market, and one who is young enough to develop even further: Ossi Vaananen. He made under $800,000 last season, and is young enough to negotiate a bargain deal with. Give him 2 years, $4 million and solidify the blueline.
It's been an interesting summer, and it isn't over yet.
Cheers.
As my days are consumed with rounds of golf, working and following the Blue Jackets' quest to complete their roster, I can't help but think of reasons why Scott Howson may have passed on Andy Sutton.
Thrasher fans have negative comments, but what fans wouldn't be pessimistic of a tenured player opting to leave their city? I have to think some Blue Jackets fans would have less than kind words to say about Dan Fritsche if he opted for free agency sometime down the road.
What Andy Sutton brings is something that many Columbus defenseman lack: intensity, size and heart. Aside from Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Adam Foote, the CBJ blueline looks disengaged more often than not. He is an excellent shutdown guy, and at 6'6 and 245 pounds carries an unheard of frame. Columbus has enough "offensive defenseman" in the system to convert some of them to forwards.
Speculation will take many routes, but the most likely scenario is that Sutton was looking for a longer term than Scott Howson was willing to offer. The GM has gone on record saying that he would sign players to a reasonable term, and for a reasonable amount. Based on previous contracts offered by Howson this offseason, Sutton was probably offered a one or two-year deal. Reports suggest he wanted three or four, something Howson just isn't ready to committ to.
The focus should now shift to arguably the most solid defenseman left on the market, and one who is young enough to develop even further: Ossi Vaananen. He made under $800,000 last season, and is young enough to negotiate a bargain deal with. Give him 2 years, $4 million and solidify the blueline.
It's been an interesting summer, and it isn't over yet.
Cheers.
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24 The dreaded (or not so dreaded) off-season
24 Wanted: GM without the ego
25 Round 2 --can it top Round 1?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
29 Earth to Nashville
30 The Enigma That is Nikolai Zherdev
24 Wanted: GM without the ego
25 Round 2 --can it top Round 1?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
29 Earth to Nashville
30 The Enigma That is Nikolai Zherdev
09 Blue Jackets Sign C Kris Beech
10 Dog Days of Summer...and CBJ Missing the Boat
11 Training Camp Preview
12 Trade Winds are Swirling....
13 "
13 "
13 "
21 Welcome to Columbus, Mr. Peca
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
28 2007-2008 Preview Part I: Forwards
10 Dog Days of Summer...and CBJ Missing the Boat
11 Training Camp Preview
12 Trade Winds are Swirling....
13 "
13 "
13 "
21 Welcome to Columbus, Mr. Peca
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
28 2007-2008 Preview Part I: Forwards
06 2007-2008 Preview Part 2: Defense
28 Jackets Face Questions Entering the Regular Season
30 Welcome to the Show, Boys
28 Jackets Face Questions Entering the Regular Season
30 Welcome to the Show, Boys
09 Opening with a BOOM!
10 Gretzky's Boys Come to Town
11 Jackets Defense Stands Tall Again
15 Jackets' Road Woes Continue
15 No Suspension for Westcott; Hitch Shuffles the Deck (Again)
22 Jackets Start, End Flat
10 Gretzky's Boys Come to Town
11 Jackets Defense Stands Tall Again
15 Jackets' Road Woes Continue
15 No Suspension for Westcott; Hitch Shuffles the Deck (Again)
22 Jackets Start, End Flat
14 New Blog!!
16 Pazzy, Jackets Earn Win
16 Rumors Just Won't Go Away
21 There Comes a Time....
23 20-Minute Special
25 Solid Road Trip
28 Time to Move On
30 Blue Jackets Trade Jody Shelley
31 Curse Reversed, Right?
16 Pazzy, Jackets Earn Win
16 Rumors Just Won't Go Away
21 There Comes a Time....
23 20-Minute Special
25 Solid Road Trip
28 Time to Move On
30 Blue Jackets Trade Jody Shelley
31 Curse Reversed, Right?
05 Caps Roll In, Other Thoughts
06 The Ledge is Closer, Mason On His Way
12 Help Wanted...Quickly
16 When Five Become One
17 Trouble Brewed
18 Into the Spotlight
19 Rick Comes Home
19 How Much More Can He Take?
20 Who Needs the Coach, Anyway?
22 The Old Hitch Trick Works
29 The Aftermath...or the Backdraft
06 The Ledge is Closer, Mason On His Way
12 Help Wanted...Quickly
16 When Five Become One
17 Trouble Brewed
18 Into the Spotlight
19 Rick Comes Home
19 How Much More Can He Take?
20 Who Needs the Coach, Anyway?
22 The Old Hitch Trick Works
29 The Aftermath...or the Backdraft
01 Scratching, Clawing, Never Quitting
03 What Might Have Been
04 Talkcast, Wednesday @ 7pm
06 Getting Back on Track
09 When the Lights Turn On
27 Secondary Scoring Shows Up
03 What Might Have Been
04 Talkcast, Wednesday @ 7pm
06 Getting Back on Track
09 When the Lights Turn On
27 Secondary Scoring Shows Up
Well...if the Islanders offer him more than Howson is willing to spend on him...of course he will go to the Islanders...however I agree with you. I believe the Jackets did miss out.
The problem with Sutton (and yes i am a thrashers fan, and no this isn't me being mad at him, i thought DW just decided to let him go) is his tendancy to dissapear for extended periods of time and in important situations (see: Thrashers, last two minutes of a game). Don't get me wrong, Sutton is a good guy to have. He is a great guy in general and seems to really enjoy the game. He also CAN through the body in a big way, but he truthfully needs to do it more. This is a guy that will either become a top D man under Hitchcock or cause the man to have a heart attack.
I appreciate your feedback. I agree with what you're saying...certainly there are players on the Blue Jackets that I will openly criticize. It's unfortunate that he looks to be signing elsewhere, but there's always more fish in the sea.